Yarn winding machine



Feb. 26, 1946. L. M. COTCHETT ET AL 2,395,465

'YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNE Feb.26, 1946. L. M. COTCHETT E-T AL YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944A? CL-w XAWAT ORA/E) Feb. 26, 1946.

L. M. COTCHETT ET AL YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1944 6Sheets-Sheet 3 -ffIEIZl INVENTORS .GJM MI. mam;

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ATTORNEV Feb. 26, 1946. M. COTCHETT ET AL YARN WINDING MACHINE eShets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 5, 1944 25m. 6am (Zw Feb. 26, 1946. I 1.. M.COTCHETT ET AL 2,395,465

YARN WINDING MACHINE Feb. 26, 1946. L. M. COTCHETT ET AL 2,395,465

YARN WINDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TORSLou/5 M. Cara/5r;- LE5 r47? CHM/55a #4 new mkmerow AT TOHZVE Y PatentedFeb. 26, 1946 UNITED YARN WINDING MACHINE Louis M. Cotchett, Hingham,and Lester Campbell, Ferdinand F. Stange, and Alfred W. Arterton,Westfleld, Mass, assignors to Foster Machine Company, Westfield, Mass.,a corporation of Massachusetts I Application February 3, 1944, SerialNo. 520,886

24 Claims. (Ci. 24235 .6)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in windingmachines. and more particularly to novel and improved means in suchmachines for realizing continuance of winding of a supply of yarn and apackage.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

v The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions,arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein'and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodimentof the invention, andtogether with thedescription, serve to explain the principles of the invention. a

Of the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a plan view of a winding machine typical of the kind towhich this invention can be successfully applied; l

[Figure 2 is a vertical section of one of the winding units of Figure 1and associatedparts, embodying a typical and illustrative form of thepresent invention; l I

Figure 3 is another vertical view similar to Figure 2 but showingdifierent'details;

Figure 4 is an elevation of a detail of the apparatus forming thisinvention, as embodied;

Figure 5 is a detailed viewof the duct member illustrated in Figures 3and 4;

Figure 6 is adetailed view of cam actuating mechanism forming part ofthe embodied appal ratus;

Figure 7 is another detailed viewof the cam actuating mechanism, ofFigure 6 with certain additional operating elements; a r r Figure 8 is adetailed view of the mechanism of Figure 6 with the operating parts indifferent relative positions;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but showing the parts in thedifferent relative positions of Figure 8 and r i Figure 10 is afragmentary view with certain parts broken away of a portion of theapparatus particularly showing the suction and blowing nozzlein'accordance with the invention.

The present invention has for its object, broadly, to provide in awinding machine means for readily and quickly finding the yarn end on apackage which is'partially wound and withdrawreadily. united with theyarnend of a supply bobbin. a j

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a; windingmachine,means whereby a predetermined and controlled length of yarn maybe withdrawn from a partially wound package and placed in a position tobe readily united with the yarn from, a supply of yarn. -.A furtherobject of the invention is to provide automatic means for drawingameasured length froma package of a winding machine and locate this forready tying with the free end of yarn of a supply mass. Other objects ofthe invention are: to provide means tofacilitate finding theend of theyarn thereon; to provide. means to permit the drawing of a yarn end from.such a package along a predetermined path; to automatically have such afree end. picked up and associated with an end of yarn from a supplysource, for easy, and rapid tying; andto have'all these steps performedautomatically in correct sequence for operations ,of as: sembling anendof the yarn on the packagewith an end of a supply mass. g

In the preferred embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, theinvention is illustratively applied to a multi-unit winding machinehaving aplurality of surface driven winding units arranged in acontinuous series, each winding unit comprising a constantlyrotatingdriving ro11, a pivoted arm carrying a package core receiving spindle orshaft which can be lowered to bring "the core into driving relation tothe roll so that yarn or other filamentous material is woundon thepackage by theirotation of the roll and core. Usual yarn guide means aretraversed back and forth across the surface of the package to wind theyarn properly on the core. a a a 1 I The winding units are preferablyidentical and may be divided into two groups of about fifty each, thetwo groups'facing in opposite directions, while the driving rolls foreach group are alined, mounted onand driven by a common shaft, each ofthe two group shafts being driven by a separatemotor at the desiredwinding speed.

Cooperating with the several winding units in succession, and movingrelatively to them isa tender, and means are preferably. providedformoving the tender past the several winding units which are preferablyfixed with reference to the machine frame. The tender is supported byand moves on a trackway, which trackway preferably extends along themulti-unit winding machine nearits baseand forms an endless track havingtwo 'straightfportions parallel to eachother, one

ing this yarn end to a position where it can be at either side of themachine, these straight por- In accordance with this invention, thetender also includes a suction nozzle which is preferably relativelythin, of a width greater than the package being wound and is directedtoward the package, so that after the yarnhas been exhausted from asupply bobbin or'the supply yarn is broken, the loose yarn end on thepackage may be automatically found and sucked into the nozzle by thecurrent of air. To provideior the suction, the tender carries a blowerwhich may 2,395,466 e v t g I Also as embodied, along the trailing edgeand be conveniently electrically driven by a motor,

and the suction nozzle is connectedto the intake side of the blower byan air duct extending for a considerable distance in a generallydownward and outwardly direction away from the package.

As the t nder movesforward, it comes to a winding unit and the suctionnozzle is moved forward and close to the periphery of the package,thereby sucking the yarn end into the suction 'riozzleQ The duration ofassociation of the nozzle near the package is regulated with theunwinding braking mechanism to draw of! the desired length of yarn."Continued movement ofthe tender causes a hook to move through a slot-inthe suction duct' and to engage the yarn end and withdraw it to aposition tobe assembled, properly spaced and parallel, with the yarnendsfrom the new supply. After that, the two ends maybe united by aknotting device, or manually. Suitable cams are provided, to obmm theseoperations in correct sequence and timing. Reversing means arepreferablyapplied to the package prior to or simultaneously with the applicationof suction. I i

Furthermore, as embodied, means are provided to expedite and insure thefreeing of the yarn end from the surface of the package, comprising ablowing nozzle immediately next to the suction nozzle, the exhaust airfrom the blower being directed to flow along the top ofthe suctionnozzle so that, when the suction nozzle is extended, an opening'isformed by the mouth of thereby considerably enhancing the sweepingaction'of the air current to blow free, lift and draw oi! the loose endfrom the wound package into the suction nozzle.

Means are also. preferably provided for causing the package to rotate ina reverse direction during the application of suction thereto, tofacilitate drawing of! the desired length ofyarn. To this end, there isprovided an idle, intermediate roll, mounted in a bracket that isswingwith the intermediate roll, said intermediate roll.

being" positioned in frictional contact between the driving roll and thepackage causes the package to rotate in a reverse or unwindingdirection.

at the underside of the suction duct is provided a long narrow slotextending into the nozzle, and for a considerable distance toward theblower, and means are provided for engaging the yarn drawn into thesuction duct and for removing it from the, duct through this long narrowslot. For this purpose a second slot, parallel to the path of movementof the tender, intersects the long narrow slot, and a hook member isprovided on each winding unit on the frame which hook may enter and passthrough the second slot as the tender moves. During this passage thehook engages the yarn lying in the duct so as to slide the yarnlaterally of the duct and finally through the long narrow slot, thelength of yarn having been predetermined, and being more than sufllcientto extend past the second slot. Pref- "erably this yarn engaging andremoving hook is associated with a clamp which holds and carries theleading end of the yarn from the reserve supply bobbin so as to assemblethe leading end of the reserve yarn supply with the exhausted end of theyarn wound on the package, thereby positioning the two yarn ends readilyfor tying; either manually or by a mechanical knotter.

The knotter may be of conventional design, and if'mechanical ispreferablymountedon-the tender so as to receive, engage, trim, and tiethe assembled yarn ends into a secureknot of the desired type. Where themechanica1 knotter is carried by the tender,'it is preferablyactuated'in correct timed relation, by the travel r the knotter past thewinding unit.

Thus each winding unit continues to wind'yarn from a supply mass orbobbin onto a package by.

contact of the package with the driving roll, and

when the yarn supply 'has been exhausted, the bobbin is dotted from itssupporting pin which is now ready to receive a new supply mass droppedonto it by the operative.' As the operative drops the new bobbin intoplace, its leading yarn and is held and preferably placed in a clampadjacent a the hook to ready it for the subsequent passageing lever hasa running position and an off position, and cam means are providedon-the tender to be engaged by the starting lever only in its offposition, this engagement being necessary to cause actuation of thevarious tender-carried parts cooperating with the winding unit.

If the yarn has been exhausted, the means have caused movement of thepackage to: be raised to its stopped or idle position, and the tendercarrying mechanisms are engaged by the starting leveri-n its consequentof! position, and thereby causes actuation. of the varioustender-carried Darts.

' Cam means are provided for resetting the starting lever as-the finaloperation of the tender on.

the winding unit, these means operating, of

course, only in case the starting leveris not already in runningposition.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailedde-n scription as well'are exemplar andexplanatcry ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings which show thepresent preferred embodiment ofthe invention there is illustratedamulti-unit winding machinehaving a plurality assumes:

of windingunits 30 arranged in two parallel alined series facing'inopposite directions with the back sides of the. winding units of oneseries adjacent to the backsides of the winding units 'of the otherseries.

These winding units are of substantially conventional construction andeach comprises a driving roll 32 carried and driven by shaft 33 which isrotatably journalled in bearings 34, all of the rolls 32 for a givenseries being mounted on a single shaft 33, suitably driven. 'Bearings 34are mounted on a unit frame 39, and these unit frames are securelyfastened to the main frame 40 of the machine.

For rotatably supporting the core 44 on which the package 45 is to bewound, there is provided a wooden core" 42 (or an iron cone shell notshown) which is freely rotatable on a spindle 43 pivotally supported inthe end of an arm 43 which is rotatably mounted by means of collar 4'!on a shaft 48, extending from one end of the machine to the other, thearms 46 being held against easy movement by a heavy spring 43 fastto'the collar 41 and having a rolled end 50 which rides in the groove 51of collar 52 fast to the shaft 48. The. arms 46 for each series ofwinding .units are mounted on thecommon shaft 48, but extend therefromin opposite directions, and hold the cone spindles 43 at such an anglethat substantially' full contact may be established between the packagecore 44 and the drivingroll 32, thereby rotating the package core byfrictional contact with its surfaceto wind yarn on the package.

Means are provided for traversing the yarn throughout the desireddistance on the package core and for this purpose a cylindrical traversecam ismounted adjacent to the driving roll 32 andin parallelismtherewith, thetraversecams for all of the winding unit; ofeach seriesbeing mounted onand driven byacommon shaft 55 which is suitably drivenfrom a motor (not shown) provided with means to automaticallyrecurrently vary the speed of cam shaft '55. The traverse cam and threadguide may be of conventional construction but in the illustrativeembodiment comprise a thread guidesupported at the end of a finger .34which is reciprocated;

in a controlled varied timed relation to the rotation of shaft 33 bymeans of the usual cam groove in the cylindrical cam 56 on shaft 55.Thus as the package is rotated by the driving roll 32, yarn tail in theprior patent to McKean, 1,992,757,

the structure of which is substantially duplicated here. The priorpatent to McKean'shows a typisoon as a new yarn has been joined to calform of drive for the driving r011 32 and'the cylindrical cam 56. andare so shown. Thus each of the winding units has friction means fordriving the package by its surface, and for winding. on the packag ayarn which is traversed by a reciprocating thread guide, while'the yamis drawn through the tensioning mechanism from the yarn supply'mass orbobbin.

Each unit is also provided with suitable means for automatically raisingthe package out of contact with its driving roll to stop its windingwhen the yarn breaksor is exhausted from the supply bobbin.

Figure 2 shows the position of the parts after the starting handle H0has been released, and while the machine is inoperation. .As will benoted the thread bar I03 has been lowered so that the thread now runs inthe guide 00, and also shows the parts in running position, with thedropwire H2 held in lowered position by the tension of the thread. j

Raising of the dropwire 2 to position II2A causes roller I2l to engagethe cam I20 thereby.

releasing latch I24 and allowing the handle I I0 to be raised to a stopposition carrying with it arm I03 which moves the ratchet finge I06forward about. its pivot while'it is in engagement'with the teeth ofrack I04, thereby swinging the pack age upwardly regardless of itsdiameter. 7

The winding mechanism may be restarted as the end of the yarn on thepackage. 1

As a new bobbin I0 is dropped onto a pin I3 of'su'pport' II to replenishthe bobbin supply, the operative keeps hold of the free end of the yamand clips the yarn end in the slot 334 in a,

hook 335 which is alsosupported on the upper end of ashaft I4, extendingfrom support 11..

thereby holding the free end of the yarnready for the assembling andknotting operations whichare later to be performed;

In accordance with the present invention,

' pneumatic means are provided for loosening the free end of theyarnfrom the package 43 being Y is traversed back and forth along thelength of on the package in uniform layers.

The yarn supplied for winding is carried on bobbins 10 which are tubularand have a mass of yarn 1| thereon, being shown as the type of bobbinwhich would be produced by conventional the package core by the threadguide 60 to lay it spinning machines. These bobbins are support-Suitable driving means are provided for moving the tender past eachunit, such means comprising, f desired, an electric traction motoroperating through ears'or by belts to cause the tender to move aroundthe machine.

As the yarn is drawn from the active bobbin it passes upwardly, over aguide bar 342, between the tension washer 3,5I and the bottom washer343, over the. thread bar I03 and is guided onto the package by thetraversing guide 00.

wound and for drawing from the package a we determinedlength of thisyarn; For this purpose there is provided a centrifugal blower 240 whichis mounted on and carried by the tender- I30 and is driven at high speedfrom a suitable moto or other prime mover. 244, the speed of the blowerbeing sufilcient to develop a rather high velocity of air. Supported onand above the tender'is a sheet metal air conductor 250 which extendsupwardly and toward the package 43 being wound, and this conductorcomprises a pressure duct 2H anda suction duct 252. the pressure ductpartially surrounding the suction duct throughout most of its length.The suction duct at its lower end 253 i connected to the intake of thecentrifugal blower 240, while at its other end.

the suction duct terminates in a relatively thin suction slot. 204 whichextends lengthwis of the package 45, and is preferably of a lengthsubstantially equal to or slightly, longerthan the package beingwound.At its lower end, theair conductor-250 forms a chamber which includesthe blast of air issues from the forward end 256 of the air conductorwhich is directed against the surface of the package 45 and tends toloosen and dislodge the end of yarn sufliciently to free it'almostimmediately from the'layers of yarn on the wound package, therebyallowing the loosened end to be picked up more readily and drawn intothe suction duct 254 by the air being sucked therethrough.

Means are provided for periodically projecting the suction duct 252toward the package being wound, 45, as the tender moves past the windingunit so as to enhance and render effective the suction operating throughthe slot or duct 254. As

particularly shown in Figures 3 and 4, the suction duct 252 is mountedon the tender by means of links 26l, one link being pivoted on a pivotpin 262 carried on either side of the tender frame, the links havingtheir upper ends pivotally mounted on a rod 263 supported by strap 264attached to either side of the suction duct 2 52.

The forward end of the suction duct 252 is provided with a strap 266extending upwardly therefrom and having a rolle 261 freely rotatable atits upper end and adapted to ride on the upper surface of a cam plate269 projecting upwardlyfrom the aiik conductor 250, strap 266 extendingthrough a suitable slot in the upper wall of the conductor 25th Theshape of cam 269, and the duct 254 moves toward the package in agenerally forward and slightly downward direction.

Also connected to the shaft 263 is a link 210 having its forward endconnected to the upper end of bell crank 21! which is mounted forrocking movement about a shaft 212 carried by the tender frame, andextending in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of thetender. Bell crank 21! 'is provided with a forwardly extending arm 213prevents the adherence of the free end to the package as might otherwiseoccur.

Preferably, and by any suitable means, as by an idler roller 286 mountedto move with duct 254 by a bracket 281 and insertable between drivingroller 32 and the package 45 as shown dotted in Fig. 3, the package 45is reversely rotated at this stage, and yarn is paid off from it andsucked into the suction duct 252, and the free end is carried into theflexible hose 256. Cam 215 is released from hub 296, in propertimedrelation by movement of the tender, to insure that the free end ofthe yarn has been drawn into the flexible hose 256 but not into the fan240, and as the suction continues the yarn i laid along the bottom wallof the suction duct 252 and across slots 290 and 29! shown'particularlyin Figure 5, for the purpose hereinafter described.

Suction duct 252 is fully restored to its original position as shown inFigure *3 by the positive action of a cam 295 carried by lever213,operating on the hub 296 projecting from the end of startaction ofthe link 261 are such that the suction ing lever H0, and the suctionduct 252 remains in this position until it approaches the next windingunit for the corresponding reversing and end finding operations.

As particularly embodied, the invention includes means to permit removalof the free length of yarn in the duct 252 from the duct. To this endthe lower trailing edge of duct 252 is preferably formed with a narrowslot 293 (Figure 5) extending from the suction slot 254 pastslots 259and 29l in duct 252, so that a hook passing straight through either ofthe slot 290 or 29l may remove the yarn sideways through the duct.

, Means are provided for engaging the yarn in the duct 252 and forremoving it through the side slot 293. For this purpose each windingunit is provided with a hook 335 mounted on U-shaped arms 395 which inturn are supported on the upper end of the shaft 14. Hook 935 is formedas an angled plate extending parallel to the direction of travel of thetender and having a lower slot 334 and an upper slot 399, theseslots'both being of considerable length, parallel to the di-- rection oftravel of the tenderand opening rearwardly with respect to the directionof travel of the tender, being held, however, rigidly with respect tothe winding unit so that the tender moves past them. The arms 395 holdthe hook 335 in a fixed position so that the upwardly extending portionof hook 335 may pass through slot 291 as the tender travels.

By this relative movement, the free end of the yarn overlying the slot29! i threaded into the slot 399 and further movement of the tendercauses the yarn to be pulled sidewise, the free end of the yarn havingbeen subjected to tension by the suction and velocity of the air in thehose 256. The free end of the yarn is thus moved from its position to aposition close with respect to the leading end of the supply bobbin,rthefree end of which had been previously inserted in slot 334 as theoperative dropped the bobbin onto the spindle 18. Further movement ofthe tender causes the free ends of the yarns to be located near eachother on the side of hook 335 away from the package, and ready for thetying or knotting operation which may be performed manually, or with amanually actuated mechanical knotter, or may be carried outautomatically.

As illustrated, a knotter 3") is carried by the tender by a bracket 248and rod 31 I, and depends from its trailing side with its yarn receivingnotches in a position to receive the yam ends assembled on hook 335 onfurther movement of the tender, and other means such as dogs 2, 3| 6 and3 l 8,-are providedfor actuating the knotter to cause the completion ofthe knotting operation by further relative movement with respect to thewinding unit.

As illustratively shown, the knotter is of the conventional typemanufactured and sold by Mill Devices Company and is adapted to tie aWeaver's knot, this conventional type of knotter having been modified bythe addition of any suitable actuating members to permit it to bemechanically actuated if desired by the travel of the tender pastthewinding units.

As the tender in its regular travel around the winder passes a windingunit it advances the knotter 3 I6 past each winding unit 30 and duringthe said advancement the knoter 3l0 performs its functions of unitingand trimming two strands of yarn.

Simultaneously with the extending of the suction duct 252 the knotter 3)is lowered and advances in its travel; also the nozzle end 254 of thewinding position. v V

A fter the trailing end of the yarn on the packsuction duct 252 has beenbrought into close proximity to the peripheral surface of the woundpackage 45 of yarn and means, previously deback to its normal idleposition.

Immediately following the knotting operation, the knotter 3H] will haveadvanced in its regular longitudinal travel with the tender being swungup and back to its normal idle position.

The complete knot tying operation is repeated at each winding unit wherethe suction duct is' caused to function when a winding package has beenstopped due to an end of a strand of'yarn having passed off the dropwire detectdr and allowed said detector to move out of its yarn age 45has been joined to the leading end of the yarn of the new supply, thewinding of package 45 may be restarted, and in its further movement thetender preferably causes starting the arm I I9 to be moved to restartingpositionand returned torunning position. It is generally desirable thatthe yarn be wound under tension, and usual means 35l may be provided fortensioning the yarn as it is wound.

Specifically referring to Figures 6 to 9, which show certain of the camactuating devices as cam 215 is moved across hub 295, with hub 296already in its extreme upper'knocked-off position with the package alsoin knocked-off position, cam 215 is pushed downwardly projecting thesuction, nozzle toward the package.

Curved surface 215' merges into the flat 215" to hold the suction nozzleclose to the package for a short period of time suflicientto cause theend of the yarn on the surface of the package to be freed, sucked intothe nozzle 254, and a sufficient length of free yarn paid off by thereverse rotation of the package45 so that the free end of the yarn isdrawn into the suction nozzle some distance past slot 29L As hub 296rides off the end of fiat 215', the r upper face of hub 296 is engagedby the underface of the cam 295, also mounted on the arm 21-3 therebypositively rocking bell crank 2 in a counter-clockwise direction toretract suction duct 252 thereby interrupting the reverse rotaunits, andthe fan 240 is at the same time driven continuously to create suction inthe duct 252 and pressure in the duct 259.

Most of the winding units, except a few in front of the tender, arestill winding in the normal manner but certain of the winding units havestopped winding dueto exhaustion of the yarn supply mass or breakage ofthe yarn, in which 1 case those particular units will be at rest withthe package 45 out of contact with the-still rotating driving roll 32.

being wound is resting on its driving roll 32 and is being rotated,while supported on the arm 49, to draw yarn from the yarn supply bobbin1| through the yarn guide which is traversed back and forth across thepackage by means of the cylindrical cam 56 driven by shaft 55. In eachwinding unit, yarn detector H2 is held down by the yarn under normalwinding tension, but in case the yarn breaks or becomes exhausted,detector H2 is raised to cause the package to be raised from its drivingroll 92 and at the same time starting lever III] is raised to its upperor knocked-off position thereby stopping the winding on that particularwinding unit.

Specifically, in accordance with this invention, as soon as the tenderI59 approaches a winding 7 unit which has stopped for any reason, therelaj tive movementof the tender and winding unit causes the actuationof the various parts through the .coaction of the different cammechanisms. r The hub 299 at the end of the starting lever H9 engageswith the inclined surface 215 of cam 215 thereby causing arm 219 to bedepressedso as to project the suction nozzle 254, towards the stoppedpackage, a

The time of extension of the suction nozzle is such as to provide fordrawing an approximately uniform length of yarn from the package intothe suction duct.

During the period the suction nozzle is extended, air under pressureandat a considerable velocity is issuing from the forward end 259 of theair duct- 25!] and blows directly against the package therebyfacilitating the freeing of the yarn end from the package so that theyarn end is almost immediately found b and sucked into the suctionnozzle 254. 5

Prior to the retraction of the nozzle from the package, yarn engaginghook 335 passed through slot 29| to remove the yarn end, therebyassembling the end of the yarn extending from the package with the endof theyarn extending from inclined cam member 295, hub 296 being at thattime supported by. means of the roller 211 which rides across the upperface of the plate 291 carried by the tender.

After the yarn ends have been assembled and the suction duct 252 hasbeen retracted, the ends of thetwo strands of yarn are tied together forexample by the knotter 3 I II which has been swung down and is actuatedto tie the knot, the knotter being moved by the tender while the rack isheld stationary on the winding unit.

Thereafter, the tender continues movement to the next winding unit, andthe operations previously described are repeated on that unit if theunit has been stopped by exhaustion or breakage of the yarn.

When the packages have been built to the proper size, the operativeindividually removes them as they become full, thereby preventingoverwinding of the packages.

While the invention has been generally and specifically described withrespect to apparatus having a plurality of units and one blowing andsuction draw off device moving relative thereto, it is obvious thatthe'invention broadly embraces apparatus where each unit has itsseparatesuc- In each active winding unit, the package 45' tion air ductoperating when needed for the purpose described, with its own hook forpicking up the thread or yarn end sucked into its duct.

The invention in its broader aspects is not lim- "itedto the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be madetherefromwithin the scope ofthe accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and, without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What we claimis: V

1 1. In a windingjmaohine, the combination of a yarn package core,.meansto rotatably support said core to permit winding of yarn thereon, meansto apply air underpressure to the yarn on said core to loosen an endthereon, means to apply suction to said end to withdraw a lengththereof, and means to lay said length .in a preslot extendingsubstantiallyparallel tothe movement of the tender and through which ayarn end extending from the package may be removed by suction, and meansto control the time of application of the suction to control the lengthof yarn sucked through said slot, to provide a unidetermined path, forthe purpose of future as- V sembly with another yarn end.

'2. In a winding machine the combination of means for supporting androtatinga yarn pack- :age core for winding yarn thereon from a supplybobbin, means for applying suction over the 7 length of said packagecore for exploring for a free end of yarn thereon, means forsimultaneously blowing air-against said package core for freeingsaidend, means for periodically moving .said suction means andsaidpackage core relative to one another to facilitate said exploring, andmeans for, withdrawing the length of yarn drawn by suction from saidpackage core from its normal path to a predetermined location for tyingwith the end of yarn ona supply bobbin.

3. In a winding machine, the combination of a yarn package, means forsupporting and rotating said yarn package, means to apply suction at apoint proximate to the periphery of said yarn package, means to applyair pressure against the yarn package to free an end of yarn thereon,and

V the frame and means holding a reserve yarn end form length of draw atall times.

,8. In a multi-unit 'windingmachine, the comage and being provided todraw a predetermined length of yam-from said winding package.

9. In a multi-unit winding machine, the com- 7 bination of a frame,means thereon for supporting and rotating a yarn package, a travellingtender having respectively suction and blowing .ducts to move close tothe package to suck and blow on the package, said suction duct having anarrow slot extending along an edge thereof, said duct havingtwointersecting slots parallel tothe path of tender travel, stationaryhooks fixed on adjacent one of the hooks, said hooks being movablethroughtheslots to remove a yam from the duct through the first slot andto assemble said yarn with the reserve'yarn held by said holding means.i

10. In av multi-unit winding machine, the combination of a frame, meansthereon for Su porting and rotating a yarn package, a, travellingtender. having respectively suction and blowing ductsto move close tothe packageto suck and blow on the package, said suction duct havin anarrow slot extending along an edge thereof,

said duct having two intersecting slots parallel 40 to the path oftender travel;

means to suck oil a predetermined length of the freed end of yam fromsaid package.

- 4. Inamulti-unit winding machine the combination ofa travelling tendermoving past the units, an air suction duct moving therewith and adaptedto be periodically projected toward a winding package, to free an end ofyarn thereon and draw off a length thereof by suction, means to lay thedrawn yarn in a predetermined position across two slots in said duct forsubsequent assembly with another end of yam,-and means to pick up saiddrawn yarn and carry itfrom said slots to a position for tying with saidother end of yarn.

h 5. In a'multi-unit winding machine, the com- 11,. In a multi-unitwinding machine, the combination of means for supporting and rotating ayarn package, a travelling tender havingfa suction duct to move close tothe package, said suction duct having a narrow slot extendingsubstantially normal to the'movement of the tender fromwhich ayarn endextending from the packagemay be removed, and stationarymeans adapted toengage the yarn and remove it laterally from said slot in the duct, assaid travelling tender moves said duct past said stationary means.

12. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotating a "yarn package, and a tender movable relativelyto bination of means for supporting and rotating a Qpackage core onwhich yarn is to be wound, a

divided air nozzle and means for blowing and sucking air through thedifferent parts of the nozzle to free a yarn end from the package andsuck the yarn end into the nozzle.

'6. Ina multi-unit winding machine, the cambination of means forsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a tender movable relatively pastthe packages, a wide air nozzle carried by the tender and movable towardand from the pack age being wound to suck ayarn end from the packagesaid nozzle comprising two slots extending side by side through one ofwhich air is blown while air is sucked through the other.

7. Ina multi-unit winding machine, the combination of meansforsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having asuction duct adapted to periodically move close to the package, saidsuction duet having a narrow the package having a suction duct tomoveclose .to the package, said suction duct having a narrow slot extendingalong the trailing side of the.

duct, said duct having two slotsjparallel to the path of tender travelwith the two slots} intersecting said'narrow slot at the trailing edge,of

the duct.

' 13. In a multi-unit winding machine, the com- ""bination of'means forsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a tender movable relatively to'the package having a suction duct to move close to the package, saidsuction duct'having a narrow slot extending along the trailing sideorthe duct, said duct having two slots parallel to the path of tendertravel with the two slotsintersecting the narrow slot at the trailingedge of the duct, and hooks movable relatively through the slots toremove a yarn from the duct through .the first slot. I

14. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having asuction duct to move close to the package, said suctionduct having anarrow slot extending substantially normal to the travel of the tenderand in which a yarn end extending from the package is located and may beremoved therefrom and means crossing said slot and thereby engaging theyarn for removing the yarn laterally from the duct. i

15. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having anupwardly and inwardly directed suction duct movable toward and from thepackage, said suction duct having a narrow slot extending along thelower, trailing side 01' the duct the bottom of said duct having asecond slot parallel to the path of tender travel with the slotsintersecting at the trailing edge of the duct, and a stationary hookassociated with means to hold yarn, said hook being movable relativelythrough the second slot to remove the yarn end laterally from the duct.

16. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotatinga yarn package, a travelling tender having asuction duct to move close to the package, said sucbination of means forsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a tender movable relative pastthe packages, a wide air nozzle carried by the tender and movable towardand from the package being wound to suck a yarn end from the package,means movable to reverse the rotation of the package, means for timingthe reversal oi the package to control the length or yarn drawn from thepackage, said nozzle comprising two slots extending side-by-side throughone of which air is blown while air is sucked through the other.

18. In a multiple unit winding machine, the

combination of means for supporting and winding a package of yarn, asupport for a yarn supply mass from which a yarn is wound on thepackage, a tender movable relatively past the winding units, a blowermounted on the tender, a suction duct having a nozzle adjacent to thepackage, said duct having'a long narrow slot, a plurality of hooksmounted on the winding unit, said hooks retaining a yarn end from asupply mass, a plurality oi slots in the duct intersecting the narrowslot and through which the hooks may move relative to the slots, saidduct being connected to the blower to suck a yarn end from the packageinto the duct to overlie the plurality of slots, and means carried bythe tender for remeans for withdrawing the length of yarn drawn movingthe yarn end from theduct, i'or assemdivided air nozzle movable towardsand from the package and means for blowing and sucking air through thediiferent parts of the nozzle to free a yarn end item the package andsuck the yarn end into the nozzle,

20. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotating 9. package core on which yarn is to be wound,and a thin wide air nozzle mounted for movement past the package surfacesubstantially as wide as the length of the package and having a slotformed in a wall of said nozzle, and means for sucking air through thenozzle to draw an end of yarn into the nozzle and placing same in saidslot for subsequent removal through said slot for knotting with a supplyend 21. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotating a package core on which yarn is to be wound, athin wide air nozzle mounted for movement past the package surfacesubstantially as wide as the length of the package and means for suckingair through the nozzle to draw a free end of the yarn of predeterminedlength into the nozzle and means for removing the yarn end from thenozzle to'assemble it with a supply yarn end including stationary meansfor engaging the yarn end and laterally withdrawing same under movementsof the nozzle past the package.

22. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of means forsupporting and rotating a yarn package, a travelling tender having asuction duct and a pressure duct both adapted to periodically move closeto the package, said ducts having narrow nozzle mouths extendingsubstantially parallel to the travel of the tender and through which ayarn end blown from the package by the air pressure may be removed bysuction, and means .to control the length or yarn sucked through saidmouth, to provide a uniform length of draw at all times, said means tocontrol the length including a reverse mechanism for said yarn package.

23. In a multi-unit winding machine, the combination of a travellingtender, a blower, and an air duct connected therewith, said blower andduct being carried by the tender and the air duct extending to beclosely adjacent a winding package, said duct being divided to providesuction and pressure portions directed at the package and being providedto draw a predetermined length of yarn from said'winding package, byreversing mechanism acting periodically on said winding packageatounwind same.

24. In a winding machine the combination of 7 means for supporting androtating a yarn package core for winding yarn thereon, means to supportan active supply bobbin, means for blowing air under pressure over saidpackage core to free a yarn end thereon means forapplying suction overthe length or said package core for exploring for said free end of yarn,means for periodically moving said suction and blowing meanstoward saidpackage core and into proximity with the yarn thereon to permit saidtree end of yarn to be withdrawn by suction, and

by suction from said package core from its normal path to apredetermined location for tying with the end otyarn on a supply bobbin,said means being arranged so that said predetermined location is closelyproidmate to said active supply bobbin. I

i LOUIS M. LESTER CAMPBELL.

FERDINAND I". BTANGE. Am W. ARTERTON.

